Search Interviews

Crayton Robey (50) interviews his partner, Ed Shaulhafer (69), about his experience training to become a doctor during the AIDS epidemic. Ed also talks about his relationship to Fire Island throughout the years.

Allie Gress interview Beth Gress, her mother, about her life in the 1980’s. Beth describes her home life and what she was up to during the time. This includes Hair Bands, her job, and the sports she played.

Tomik Dash [no age given] interviews his friend Robert "Bob" Levine [no age given] about his first time in Cherry Grove on Fire Island and about his career as a drag performer starting in the 1950s. They discuss the impact...

James Hensley (58) tells his husband Chris Jarvis (58) about his 30 years as a bartender in gay bars, describing the exciting nightlife of the places where he worked, as well as the dangers of being "out" and discovered in...

Friends Ward Auerbach (78), James "Jim" Pepper (77), and William "Bill" Mattle (54) talk about being residents of the Fire Island Pines through the AIDS crisis. They reflect about loss, organizing, and about the work being done by younger people...

Friends Kris Grae (56) and Gil Neary (64) discuss their experience on Fire Island during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, how they dealt with loss and grief, and how they would like to be remembered.

Friends Kevin Koerner (61) and Ed Crane (64) remember their experiences living through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and compare it to their experiences living through COVID-19. They discuss their passions and interests, and look towards the future.

Mike tells Sam about growing up Irish Catholic in Detroit, training to be a priest, coming to terms with his sexuality while in the church, and leading Dignity Detroit (a group for gay Catholics) in the early 70s. Mike describes...

Stephen "Steve" Foster (74) is interviewed by his husband, Russell Saray (62), about his experiences caring for a partner who passed from AIDS, living during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and being a community member of Fire Island Pines.

One Small Step partners Teri Mott (61) and Krista Anderson (61) talk about their personal political values, the issues that have become personal to them, and their experiences with religion.

Jeff Severson (68) shares how his early years as an actor in NYC coincided with the arrival of the AIDS epidemic. He recounts the loss of two life partners from AIDS and his own HIV positive status. Jeff also talks...

Crayton Robey (50) interviews new friend Kyle Merker (60) about Kyle's experience living and working on Fire Island through the AIDS crisis. Kyle remembers friends that he lost, talks about his time caring for AIDS patients as a candy striper,...

Bill Van Parys (61) interviews his friend R. "Scott" Bromley about (83) about his experience visiting and living on Fire Island, especially during the AIDS epidemic. Scott also shares his love for the Pines and the Pines community.

Gina Miranda-Diaz (59) speaks with her son Alexander Joel Diaz (28) about growing up visiting family in Puerto Rico, her career as a nurse, and her passion for public health. Gina also tells a story about collecting supplies after Hurricane...

Friends and colleagues David Aronstein (68) and Dale Mitchell (71) discuss their work together on the LGBT Aging Project, an advocacy group they founded in 2001.

Lucy tells Lindsey about growing up in Bloomington, Indiana, coming to terms with her sexuality, finding a lesbian community in college, facing discrimination at work, and campaigning for LGBT rights in the workplace. She also asks Lindsey about the concept...

Board of Directors Storytelling Project: Our first StoryCorps conversation is between SFV Board Co-chair Bill Haskell (77) and Board member Liv Schaffer (31). In this inspiring conversation, Bill and Liv talked about many things including people who have been instrumental...

Don Millinger (66) and his husband, Gary Clinton (70), remember their first visit to Fire Island Pines, discuss learning about AIDS, and share memories of loved ones they lost throughout the epidemic. The pair also reflect on how Fire Island...

Evan Wolfson (57) speaks with friend, Kevin Jennings (51), about his experiences as a gay man and how it led to his role as a legal advocate in the marriage equality movement.